maintaining possession for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintaining possession for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing the act of keeping or holding onto something for a specific purpose or duration. Example: "The athlete is maintaining possession for the duration of the game to ensure victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Alabama also kept the Warriors' offense off the field, maintaining possession for 38 minutes 55 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

And they are exerting their will on the ball, maintaining possession for 59 percent so far in this match.

The New York Times

Burress reached up and over Justin Rogers to grab the ball along the far sideline, maintaining possession for an 18-yard reception.

The New York Times - Sports

Question: Is England playing for penalties, or are they just too ill equipped, and the Italians too good at maintaining possession, for the English players to do much of anything in a sustained fashion?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The linemen helped the offense maintain possession for 36 minutes 22 seconds against Minnesota.

The New York Times - Sports

Brisbane put in a spirited performance, but after Little's early goal City maintained possession for large periods and generally controlled the match.

The Guardian - Sport

The Jets amassed 169 yards rushing against the Colts and maintained possession for 18 minutes in the second half as they rallied to victory.

The New York Times - Sports

Just as New Zealand broke downfield to set up a possible equaliser Rosalee Jencke stole the ball back and Australia maintained possession for the remaining seconds to send the crowd into raptures.

The Guardian - Sport

With Clyde unable to maintain possession for any prolonged periods, Ally McCoist's team enjoyed the bulk of possession.

BBC

The Wolverines ran 80 plays in the game and maintained possession for 41 minutes and 13 seconds during the 60 minutes of play.

Wikipedia

In addition, two new games have been implemented: the first involves capturing a Shine Sprite and maintaining possession of it for a time period, and the other involves throwing Bob-ombs at each other to collect points.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintaining possession for", ensure the context clearly defines what is being possessed (e.g., ball, land, rights) and for what duration or purpose. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "maintaining possession for" without specifying what is being possessed. For example, instead of saying "The team focused on maintaining possession for the game", specify "The team focused on maintaining possession of the ball for the game."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintaining possession for" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun, often followed by a specified time or purpose. This is supported by Ludwig AI's grammatical correctness assessment. Examples from Ludwig show its use in sports contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "maintaining possession for" is grammatically sound and serves to describe the act of retaining something for a specified time or purpose, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's most commonly found in News & Media and Wiki sources. While versatile, it's crucial to clearly define what is being possessed to avoid vagueness. Related phrases include "retaining control for" and "holding onto for". Keep in mind that although it is grammatically correct, specifying what you're maintaining possession of is the best practice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

retaining control for

Focuses on the control aspect rather than explicitly stating possession.

holding onto for

Emphasizes the act of keeping something, often with a sense of effort or difficulty.

keeping hold of for

Similar to "holding onto", but can also imply a more physical grasp.

preserving ownership for

Highlights the legal aspect of ownership and its continuation.

sustaining command of for

Implies authority and continuous control over a situation or object.

securing tenure of for

Suggests guaranteeing a period of ownership or occupation.

continuing to possess for

A more formal way of expressing the act of maintaining possession.

prolonging retention of for

Emphasizes extending the duration of keeping something.

upholding claim to for

Focuses on the justification and continuation of a right to ownership.

managing custody of for

Relates to the act of being responsible for and keeping something safe for a period.

FAQs

How can I use "maintaining possession for" in a sentence?

You can use "maintaining possession for" to describe the act of retaining control or ownership of something for a specified duration or purpose. Example: "The company aimed at "maintaining possession for" the next quarter".

What are some alternatives to "maintaining possession for"?

Alternatives include "retaining control for", "holding onto for", or "keeping hold of for" depending on the context.

Is "maintaining possession for" grammatically correct?

Yes, "maintaining possession for" is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in contexts related to sports, law, and property.

What's the difference between "maintaining possession of" and "maintaining possession for"?

"Maintaining possession of" generally refers to the act of keeping something. "Maintaining possession for" includes the added element of duration or purpose. For example, "maintaining possession of the ball" versus ""maintaining possession for" the entire match".